Sumner City Council passed a controversial resolution 4-2 Monday, which proponents view as an important step toward more revenue and opponents see as a dramatic change to Sumner’s small-town identity.

The region in question is the Sumner-Pacific Industrial Area, which when designated as a Manufacturing/Industrial Center (MIC) would become more likely to qualify for federal infrastructure and transportation funding.

Designating the land as an MIC could add manufacturing jobs to the region, according to Mayor Dave Enslow. Many of the jobs are in construction and manufacturing.

Councilmembers Matthew Richardson and Randy Hynek voted against the ordinance. One fault Richardson saw was the requirement of the manufacturing and industrial center allowing retail to be no more than 20 percent.

Another concern involved the effect the MIC overlay would have on other aspects of Sumner, such as whether accepting federal funding would mean Sumner would lose some of its independence from other jurisdictions.

Giving a presentation to council Monday night Sumner City Planning Manager Ryan Windish said the ordinance does not entail any clause or instructions for Sumner to adhere to any new requirements. An MIC overlay designation is a renaming of an area, and not a zoning. No changes to what is allowed to be constructed there would occur.

Councilmember Hynek said his decision did not come without sincere consideration for the benefits and disadvantages to the city.

Before council voted Hynek drove home a point which was stated several times throughout the course of discussion as a prime concern.

“This doesn’t lock us into anything,” he said.